As reported earlier at Bimmerpost, the F22/F23/F87 2er/M2 is rumored to get a facelift for MY2018 (starting in Summer 2017).

Earlier this week (Oct 25, 2016) a member of a German forum has spotted an M2 LCI test mule (Life Cycle Impulse = facelift) on a highway near Leipzig (as we know, the M2 is built at the BMW Leipzig factory). Car with red plates (= dealer test drive car) and the spotter reported that the passenger inside the M2 had a laptop. Front and rear featured some camouflage. The picture shows camo on the rear lights and diffusor + also reveals an M3/M4 exhaust (judging by the exhaust tips) (source: here).

If they really change the engine mid cycle on a car that has such a long waiting list, BMW will lose me as a customer for future "special cars". Just feels like a stab in the back to all those who pursued allocations since the beginning and will get awarded with thousands of dollars lost if they decide to sell/trade in in a couple of years. I know you don't buy a car thinking about selling it but if it really is an upgraded base model then all 16's and 17's will take a serious hit

If they really change the engine mid cycle on a car that has such a long waiting list, BMW will lose me as a customer for future "special cars". Just feels like a stab in the back to all those who pursued allocations since the beginning and will get awarded with thousands of dollars lost if they decide to sell/trade in in a couple of years. I know you don't buy a car thinking about selling it but if it really is an upgraded base model then all 16's and 17's will take a serious hit

Kind of like Porsche did to their cayman GTS owners by releasing the GT4 less than a year later? You don't seem to see that many people too upset about it. The current M2 is a great car at a reasonable price and has been getting positive reviews, especially as a daily driver. If the M2 truly gets the S55 you can bet the price will go up and many who just drive on the street may even think they got a better value on the 16-17 models. Really depends on the details and price on the s55 M2... but I am looking forward to it!

It definitely looks like the S55 exhaust in the pics.This is good confirmation that the MY18 M2 will be getting the S55 engine.

Did he say anything about the headlights being LED on the car or did it still have the Xenons.

Keep thinking optimistically. Highly doubt they would add the S55 in stock M2 form unless they were to crank the price way up. Maybe in a GTS though which naturally would command a higher price. The S55 is much more expensive than an N55 derived engine so making it part of the base car wouldn't make a lot of sense. It would significantly reduce M4 sales and likely demand for the M2 because of the necessary higher price. Guess its possible though. But my money says IF 'S55' THEN 'M2 GTS'.

If they really change the engine mid cycle on a car that has such a long waiting list, BMW will lose me as a customer for future "special cars". Just feels like a stab in the back to all those who pursued allocations since the beginning and will get awarded with thousands of dollars lost if they decide to sell/trade in in a couple of years. I know you don't buy a car thinking about selling it but if it really is an upgraded base model then all 16's and 17's will take a serious hit

Kind of like Porsche did to their cayman GTS owners by releasing the GT4 less than a year later? You don't seem to see that many people too upset about it. The current M2 is a great car at a reasonable price and has been getting positive reviews, especially as a daily driver. If the M2 truly gets the S55 you can bet the price will go up and many who just drive on the street may even think they got a better value on the 16-17 models. Really depends on the details and price on the s55 M2... but I am looking forward to it!

If it's a whole different model with a different price point then I'm ok with that. The issue is if this is only a change to the base model

Hard to say without knowing their production cost, which should be a factor in MSRP. Is it intended for use as a replacement or only in a special edition? If they discontinue the N55, they might also reduce production complexity and maybe overall production time. BMW has seen a large demand for the car so they could increase margins considerably and even increase sales while doing so, right? They also have no risk in switching to the S55.

Would be a gigantic shitshow for sure unless the difference in market value was somehow perfectly accounted for by MSRP.

I am on a list for 2017 but if this points towards a new engine I would certainly wait for 2018. Unless this means a price increase in which case... I don't know.

I think BMW is either trolling or testing for the new limited edition. Or maybe they are discontinuing the base M2 at the end of 2017 and introducing M2 CS at a higher price point for 2018. At the current price point the M2 doesn't make any (or much) money, and since they are selling every single one they can produce at MSRP or higher, why not increase the price by releasing a new version that is more expensive. Put the S55 engine in it and bump the price 10K! Since they already have the engine there isn't much development needed.

Idk to me I don't see any possible way they put an S55 in the base M2. Then it isn't a base M2 because the price will definitely increase significantly in my opinion and it defeats the purpose of the M2 which is honestly one of the best cars ever made for the money. That's the important part; for the price it is. No way they would sacrifice that for an S55. I think it's just testing for some kind of special edition. Just my guess.

Don't know the production cost but do know that an S55 replacement due to a blown engine costs around $40k, labor included. There are numerous posts on the F8x M3/4 forum pertaining to this. My hazy recollection of an N55 replacement is $20k. Don't quote me on that price. Regardless, the S55 is way more expensive. Incorporating the S55 in the M2 alone should jack the price up substantially.

Don't know the production cost but do know that an S55 replacement due to a blown engine costs around $40k, labor included. There are numerous posts on the F8x M3/4 forum pertaining to this. My hazy recollection of an N55 replacement is $20k. Don't quote me on that price. Regardless, the S55 is way more expensive. Incorporating the S55 in the M2 alone should jack the price up substantially.

When it comes to manufacturing, the summation of component costs does not translate to production costs. There are a lot more factors to consider, such as tooling, manufacturing time, R&D distribution, regulatory costs, and far more. So while the S55 is unquestionably more expensive than the N55, that disparity in cost you see is not the true production cost difference.